Pangolin slowly explained: "The two of them did not follow the Raikage to suppress the Two-Tails Matatabi that day. Instead, they were performing logistics work in the village and escaped that disaster."
"After the Akatsuki Organization broke through Kumogakure, Mabui took part of Kumogakure's remaining forces and fled. She is now communicating with Konoha, preparing to form an alliance and retake Kumogakure."
Kairen carefully stroked the nonexistent stubble on his chin, then said, "Then the army will march east, seize the Land of Lightning, complete the encirclement of the Land of Fire, and conveniently let me marry two beautiful wives!"
"By your command!"
The strategy was immediately finalized, and Kairen had something to do again.
...
Now, speaking of Guy.
Ever since he learned that his students and team companions were still by Kairen's side, he rushed nonstop toward the direction of the Land of Earth.
Kakashi chased desperately from behind and finally caught up to Guy.
Kakashi took two breaths, his face flushed red as he looked at Guy:
"Guy, although I'm very glad you're still alive, could you please stop torturing people like this?"
Guy said anxiously: "Kakashi, I'm the only one from our team who returned. Rock Lee, Neji, and Tenten are of unknown life or death, and their whereabouts are unknown. How can I not be anxious?"
Kakashi persuaded him: "I know your determination to protect your companions, but don't worry! That guy doesn't have much killing intent."
"When Naruto and I were captured before, he didn't deal with us. Besides, he even saved your life."
"I think he will definitely release Shikamaru and the others!"
The ninja dog Pakkun beside them also echoed: "Yeah! Guy, don't worry. The village won't abandon any companion. Everyone will find a way to rescue them!"
Guy still did not change his anxious expression: "Then how long do we have to wait? We can't predict Kairen's temperament. We can't count on him suddenly showing kindness. After all, he's the one who destroyed the Root organization!"
Kakashi was helpless, but he also thought the same in his heart.
Kairen was Konoha's enemy. They could not expect the other party to have a conscience.
Most importantly, that kid was extremely lustful. The two girls, Ino and Tenten, suited his tastes very well.
In that case—
Kakashi struggled internally for a while, but in the end, he still decided to practice the Will of Fire.
"Guy, I'll go with you. We'll rescue Shikamaru and the others together!"
Guy gave Kakashi a thumbs-up: "That's how it should be, Kakashi! Only in this way can youth shine brilliantly! Let's retrieve our companions together!"
Kakashi sighed helplessly.
Ever since Kairen emerged, all kinds of strange chaos had blown toward Konoha. Even an idle person like him could no longer stay idle.
"Let's go! Guy!"
"Alright, let's depart! Let's compete and see who reaches Iwagakure first."
"Iwagakure? Will that guy have already led his army back?"
...
Land of Lightning
This place was located on high ground. The climate was complex and the terrain strange, yet it was an excellent place for military ambushes.
Inside a cave, Mabui stared at the uneven cave ceiling in worry.
No one had expected a great ninja village to be so fragile.
To be precise, even Kairen destroying Sunagakure in such a short time had not made the great ninja villages lose their arrogance.
Obito, with just one Rinnegan, was like a god or demon, easily suppressing Kumogakure's top combat forces.
The Fourth Raikage, Darui, and many other high-level leaders died in battle. Killer B was captured. Immediately after, a violent storm and tsunami wiped out Kumogakure.
This great ninja village, established since the Warring States era, was destroyed in a single day. Its people fled, and it was officially removed from the Five Great Nations of Shinobi.
If Mabui had not possessed foresight and led a group of core members to escape through underground tunnels immediately, Kumogakure's last remaining hope would have been extinguished as well.
Thinking about the troubles of the Land of Lightning, Mabui could not help but sigh.
"Sigh…"
She was in the prime of her youth, yet bearing the burden of restoring the village placed immense pressure on her.
"Tap, tap…"
Light footsteps came from outside the cave.
Mabui turned her gaze.
It was Samui, Omoi, and Karui. The three had temporarily formed a team and were considered the most capable talents remaining in Kumogakure's surviving forces.
As soon as Mabui saw them, she became somewhat anxious: "How is it? What did the Hokage say?"
With only their small base and fewer than ten jōnin, wanting to drive Obito away was simply a fool's dream.
Therefore, Mabui hoped to receive Konoha's support.
Samui shook her head, her light green eyes unable to hide her guilt: "The Fifth Hokage is currently troubled by Kairen's strategic encirclement. The southern border of the Land of Fire is under great pressure."
"Many of Konoha's ninja are guarding the borderlines and simply cannot spare forces to support us."
Mabui was somewhat disappointed, but it was within expectations.
Only two of the Five Great Nations remained. Each country was struggling to survive itself. How could they have spare strength to support others?
In the end, when the Land of Wind was destroyed, these great nations should have formed a strategic alliance and established a Shinobi Allied Army. Otherwise, they would not have been defeated one by one by terrifying forces.
But everything was too late. The arrogance of the great nations had caused them to miss the best opportunity to form an alliance.
Mabui fell silent.
Driving the Akatsuki Organization out of the Land of Lightning was clearly not an easy goal.
Omoi glanced at Samui's large chest and muttered quietly: "That tyrant has his eyes on your weapon. Why don't we go ask him?"
Samui had excellent hearing and immediately became furious: "What did you say?"
Omoi was an honest person who spoke bluntly and could not read expressions, so he immediately said what he was thinking.
"Isn't that tyrant in the south lusting after you? Why don't you use a beauty trap to lure him over?"
"When two fight, we'll reap the benefits and drive out the Akatsuki Organization."
Samui kicked Omoi: "Idiot! Do you think it's that simple?"
Driving out the Akatsuki Organization was not as simple as Omoi imagined. Why would Kairen ignore the rich neighboring Konoha and travel thousands of miles just to trouble the Land of Lightning?
Was he that idle?
Just then, an intelligence ninja outside the cave shouted.
"The south has declared war! Kairen has declared war! He is launching an eastern expedition. The target is Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning!"
Samui froze. He really declared war?!
Omoi's expression also froze as he muttered: "I actually guessed right… The Akatsuki Organization will soon be driven out of the Land of Lightning."
After her initial shock, Samui sneered: "Perhaps Kairen will drive the Akatsuki Organization out of the Land of Lightning, but he won't hand the Land of Lightning back to us."
Samui had long known she was on Kairen's concubine selection list and understood that the Tenseigan host lusted after her body.
But she had always dismissed it, believing Kairen was merely a clown who wouldn't last long.
But that was only her earlier, one-sided understanding.
Ever since realizing Obito had easily killed Kumogakure's legends, Samui began to face Kairen's strength seriously. He was currently the only person in the ninja world capable of opposing the Akatsuki Organization.
Naturally, Samui hoped to use his strength against Obito—but in her view, the chances were slim.
Kairen's actions showed him to be a greedy man. If he came to the Land of Lightning, he likely would not leave empty-handed.